Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Emma Kielman, owner of Rose Creamery, located in State Center, IA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Rose Creamery is a specialty coffee, ice cream, and food cafe located on Main St. in State Center, Iowa. Our little cafe is super cute, with a beautiful original brick wall and original tile from when this building used to be an old hardware store. We've been open for ten months now and constantly are making new menus of fun seasonal drinks. Our favorite shake is the Rose Queen Shake (named after the local Rose Queen competition during the Rose Festival... did I mention State Center is the Rose capital of Iowa?!). This shake is filled with strawberry ice cream, strawberry sauce, and white chocolate. We also have a large selection of products (homemade pottery mugs, earrings, teas, wildflower honey, essential oils, and more), all made by local artists. I have really enjoyed collaborating with these entrepreneurs. I wanted this shop to inspire more people to come to State Center and hopefully will bring in more businesses to the area.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Emma Rose Kielman, and I'm 22 years old. I grew up in this area my entire life; I was homeschooled and competed in sports at State Center's local high school, West Marshall. I studied Business Administration at Marshalltown Community College and did a creative ministry school in Alesund, Norway. I also attended a coffee class while I was there; we studied the process of coffee from bean to cup, met local coffee business owners, got trained with world-class roasters and baristas, and got lots of hands-on experience working in local cafes. From then on, I went to work at coffee shops back in the states for a few more years.
In the Spring of 2021, an opportunity leaped up to open a coffee shop, and I went for it. Thankfully I already knew some local friends who have an amazing coffee roaster, and I instantly collaborated with them. Rose Creamery opened in June of 2021, and it's been going strong ever since! Honestly, the locals inspire me the most, especially when they sit in the shop to engage with friends, study, play games, or work. I created this space for the community to have a space to come together (crucial, especially during a world pandemic, where community and social life were thrown aside). I want to bring the community back together, and this was the perfect way to do it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly that my employees, past and present, love the work environment at Rose Creamery. It means the world to me knowing that they love what they do as well and feel like they're fulfilling a purpose. And I guess just being 22 and pretty much-learning everything on my own. I have some great mentors that I've learned from, and school helped, but once you're in a real-life experience, everything feels different. I'm just proud of myself for taking a risk and starting something I'm really proud of.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Burnouts. I'm here at the cafe from open to close, six days a week. I know it won't always be this way, but for now, in my free time, I really focus on "me-time" to rest, recharge and refuel. We even had to take a bigger break after Christmas; I think taking breaks as a small business is understandable and sometimes needed.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Make sure to give yourself time; if you don't have balance in your life, then you'll crash fast. Make sure you are keeping yourself healthy and your mindset strong. Make sure what you're doing is truly aligning with your life goals. Only start a business if you truly see a purpose within it. And lastly, have fun and jump in! Don't just think so much about numbers and logistics.. haha, maybe this is bad advice, but just go for it! Give it your all and see what happens!
Where can people find you and your business?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosecreameryIA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rose.creamery/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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